Phlebotomy Training and Career Guide Phlebotomy Training Resources and Guides for becoming Certified as a Phlebotomist!
Phlebotomy Training in Washington State
Known for its rainy climate and for being the birthplace of everyone’s favorite coffee
spot, the picturesque Washington State is a populous area with more than 7 million
people calling this part of the Pacific Northwest home. From a thriving tourist industry to
being a technology hub, this coastal state offers something for everyone.
The salary for a phlebotomist in Washington can be impacted by location; with the
larger cities generally offering the larger salary. On average, the salary for a
phlebotomist is $33,500.
Washington State continues to see growth in various sectors, which does have a direct
impact on the need for medical professionals in the state.
The Washington State Department of Health regulates phlebotomy training, and also
oversees the certification process.
Phlebotomy Certification Requirements:
There are three paths that you can take in order to meet the certification requirements
for Washington State.
1. You should successfully complete a phlebotomy program through an accredited
organization. The organization’s accreditation should be valid and recognized by
the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts from the organization will serve as
confirmation of your completion
2. You should have completed a phlebotomy training program that has been by a
supervising healthcare practitioner. The attestation from the program’s
supervising heath care practitioner will serve as confirmation of completion
3. You may have training through the military, or have sufficient experience. Official
transcripts will serve as confirmation of any relevant education, training, and
hands-on experience. It will be up to the Washington State Department of Health
to determine whether the training and experience is sufficient to meet the
standards of the state
It should be noted that your credentials will not be issued by the Department of Health
until they have received your official transcripts. You may still apply for your certification,
but no action will be taken until your transcripts have undergone the review process.
Basic Requirements for Licensing:
If you are pursuing your phlebotomy certification, there are some license requirements
that you will need to meet in order to successfully get the certification in hand.
You should be able to demonstrate that you are fluent in English; this means the ability
to read, write, and converse in English. You should have completed high school, or
have evidence of having completed a high school equivalency exam. Your transcripts
from school or your equivalency certificate will serve as evidence of this.
You should also be able to demonstrate proof of having completed several hours of
AIDS education and training. Many of the phlebotomy training courses include AIDS
education and training as a part of the curriculum.
In addition, each person must provide answers to some personal data questions. These
questions could encompass the physical and mental health status of the individual,
cover any history of chemical dependency and/or substance abuse, a history of a loss
of credentials, any disciplinary actions taken, or felony convictions. Any disciplinary
actions, convictions, or loss of credentials in another state must be fully explained.
National Certifications and Transferring Qualifications:
If you will be relocating to Washington State, already holding your phlebotomy and
medical assistant certifications, you may wonder if they automatically transfer and allow
you to work in Washington. National certifications are certainly respected, but in order to
legally perform the clinical duties of a phlebotomist in the state of Washington, a
Department of Health-issued credential must be obtained.
If your certification was obtained through your place of employment, you will not need to
reapply for certification with the Department of Health if you chose to work for another
facility. Certifications obtained through the Department of Health are valid for working
anywhere in the State of Washington.
Requirements of Maintaining your Certification:
The phlebotomy certification must be renewed within a year on the phlebotomist’s
birthday, for the first year. After the first renewal, the phlebotomist will only need to
renew his or her credentials every two years, on or before his or her birthday.
Further Information:
We try to be thorough here, but you may have some further questions about certification in
Washington state. We recommend you check out the Department of Health’s website to see if
your questions can be answered there.
Phlebotomy Training Programs in Washington State:
These aren’t the only schools and colleges offering Phlebotomy training programs. We just thought
that we’d highlight the different types of requirements that different schools will have for
admission to their programs.
Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College, with three locations offering phlebotomy programs, includes
three courses within the phlebotomy program.
– HIV/Blood borne Pathogens
– Basic Phlebotomy Skills
– Advanced Phlebotomy course.
During the course you will undergo 120 hours of training, over a period of nine weeks.
At the end of the three courses, you will be prepared to take the tests needed to
become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician.
Official Website:
http://www.bates.ctc.edu/programs/continuing-education/healthsciences
Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham Technical College provides a phlebotomy training course that includes
classroom instruction, lab work, and a clinical externship. This assures students will
receive both theoretical and hands-on training.
Training for the phlebotomy program will include basic anatomy and physiology, medical
terminology, medical office procedures and phlebotomy skills. The externship is at least
100 clinical hours.
A background check is required this entry into this training program.
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College offers a Phlebotomy Tech Program at its Lynnwood,
Washington campus.
In order to qualify for entry into the phlebotomy tech program at Edmonds Community
college, you will need to have completed 17 credit hours of prerequisites. These include
Explore Health Careers, The Human Body, Medical Terminology, PC Basics, HIV/AIDS
and CPR/First Aid.
Once the prerequisites have been completed, you can then enter the nine hour
phlebotomy program.
Visit their website:
http://www.edcc.edu/ahe/phlebotomytech/
More Phlebotomy Schools in Washington State:
Fortis College-Montgomery
Alaska Career College
Phoenix College
Coconino Community College
Pima Community College
Brookline College-Phoenix
University of Alaska Anchorage
Brookline College-Tempe
Brookline College-Tucson
Yavapai College
External Websites used in this Post:
That beautiful image of Mt. Rainier comes courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Find out where your preferred city in Washington State stacks up in terms of average
salary, when compared to others: http://www1.salary.com/WA/Phlebotomist-salary.html
